Content
Cucumber Cedric appeared on the seed market just a few years ago, during which time gardeners were able to appreciate it. Many people liked the early maturity of the vegetable, its taste, high yield. In order for the varietal characteristics to manifest themselves as brightly as possible, you need to know the subtleties and nuances of cultivation.
Breeding history
The Cedric cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. Cedrik) is the work of Dutch breeders from Enza Zaden. In 2015, the hybrid was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation and recommended for growing indoors in most regions of the country. It is appreciated all over the world and is successfully cultivated in spring and winter heated greenhouses.
Description of Cedric cucumbers
Cucumber of the Cedric variety belongs to the indeterminate type, its shoots are not limited in growth, if you do not pinch the tops. The foliage is medium in size, dark green. Cedric cucumber forms a little side branches. The root system is powerful enough, in unfavorable conditions it is able to provide moisture and nutrients, without shedding the formed ovaries. The plant only temporarily stops growing. The type of flowers of the Cedric variety cucumber is female. In the axils of the main stem, together with the buds, from three to five ovaries appear. Zelentsy at the time of market ripeness has a length of 12-14 cm, with an average weight of 100 g. The shape of the fruit is elongated-cylindrical. The skin is dark green, with small tubercles, white thorns and slight pubescence. There is practically no ribbing. The pulp is juicy, sweetish, dense, crunchy, with a bright aroma.
Cedric cucumber seeds are small, often not viable
Characteristics of Cedric cucumbers
Since the Cedric variety is parthenocarpic, cucumbers give stable and regular yields in a greenhouse. Indeterminacy allows you to get a tall plant and collect the maximum number of fruits of excellent quality from one bush. The hybrid is early maturing. Transportability and keeping quality are high. It is appreciated for its resistance to major diseases - powdery mildew, cladosporium, cucumber mosaic. The purpose of the fruit is universal.
Yield
Fruiting lasts about two months. Yields are unaffected by temperature fluctuations and changes in growing conditions. Cucumbers of the Cedric variety ripen evenly, subject to agricultural technology from 1 m2 collect 15-18 kg. With the creation of a significant humus layer, regular watering, top dressing, the yield rises to 24-26 kg / m2.
Ripening and flowering terms
Cedric cucumbers begin to bloom a month after germination. The beginning of intensive and friendly fruiting can be observed at 40-45 days. They are collected every two days. To remove the fruit, use scissors or pruning shears so as not to damage the shoots when plucked by hand. You need to store Cedric cucumbers in a refrigerator or basement, where the air temperature does not exceed +10 ⁰С, and the humidity is high. They are put in containers with openings for free air circulation (cardboard boxes, baskets). Pre-sorted, removing damaged or showing signs of disease.
Cedric cucumbers are harvested in the evening or early in the morning
Disease and pest resistance
The Cedric hybrid has a high immunity to major fungal diseases. For preventive purposes in greenhouses, it is necessary to disinfect the soil by fumigating with sulfur bombs, processing with copper sulfate. The room needs to maintain optimal humidity, periodically ventilate. Crop rotation and control of nitrogen levels in the soil help to avoid diseases on the Cedric cucumber. The plant is sometimes attacked by pests. The greatest danger among them is:
- Melon aphid - it is determined by drooping foliage, drops of sweet dew and a cluster of ants.
To cope with the infestation of aphids, the treatment with infusion of dandelion roots with the addition of mustard helps
- Spider mite - white dots on the back of the leaf and cobweb entanglement of the tops of the shoots.
To combat spider mites on a cucumber, an infusion of marigolds is used
- Whitefly - white larvae that later develop into small moths, leaving a sticky coating on the stems.
Against whitefly, spraying cucumbers with dope infusion is used once every ten days
- Cucumber gnat - its larvae make holes in the cotyledon leaves, which leads to yellowing and death of the seedling.
You can destroy the cucumber gnat by processing with Aktara 3-4 days after planting.
Advantages and disadvantages
Cedric cucumbers are a relatively new variety; for only a few years it has been used to obtain early vegetables on private farms and on an industrial scale. During this time, the advantages of the hybrid and its disadvantages have been revealed.
Cucumbers of the Cedric variety are distinguished by the bundle method of ovary formation
Pros of a hybrid:
- early ripening;
- high and stable yield;
- self-pollination;
- resistance to infections and attack of insect pests;
- great taste;
- versatility of use;
- loyalty to temperature extremes and insufficient lighting;
- preservation of presentation during storage and transportation.
The disadvantages of Cedric cucumbers include the impossibility of self-collection of seeds, since they do not retain varietal characteristics.
Planting Cedric Cucumbers
Cedric cucumbers can be grown in the greenhouse, in the open field, on the balcony and even on the windowsill. Its tolerance for lack of light and abrupt changes in temperature helps to grow equally rich crops in all conditions. They use both the seed method and with the help of seedlings.
Sowing in open ground
The Cedric hybrid is resistant to most diseases, which makes it much easier to cultivate in the open field and plant with seeds. Choose a site that is well lit by the sun with loose, fertile soil.
Seeds of the Cedric variety do not need preliminary preparation, since they are purchased from specialized producers who carry out a complete processing of the seed. The site is dug to the depth of the shovel bayonet, removing the roots of weeds. Sawdust, peat, chicken droppings are added to the soil. Ridges with a width of 70 cm and a height of 20 cm are formed, and their surface is leveled. After warming up the air to +18 ⁰С, and the soil to +15 ⁰С, they start sowing. A furrow is made in the center of the ridge, 3 cm deep and shed with a hot solution of potassium permanganate. Seeds are laid out at intervals of 25 cm, covered with soil with a layer of 3 cm. Arches are placed on top and covered with agrofibre or film. The optimal sowing time for Cedric cucumbers in the middle lane is the end of May. They should be adjusted depending on the climatic conditions of the region. The best precursors for Cedric cucumbers are potatoes, radishes, peppers, peas, and cabbage.
Do not grow Cedric cucumbers after pumpkin or carrots
Seedling method
To accelerate the harvest of Cedric cucumbers, the seedling method is used.Peat glasses, tablets, cassettes or plastic containers are taken as containers. They operate according to the algorithm:
- The container is filled with a moist soil mixture consisting of sand, humus and garden soil, taken in a ratio of 1: 2: 2.
- Seeds are sealed one at a time to a depth of 1.5-2 cm.
- Cover with glass or film from above and transfer to a warm place (+25 ⁰С).
After 5-6 days, the first shoots appear. Containers with seedlings of Cedric cucumbers are transferred to a well-lit place. The air temperature is gradually reduced to 15-18 ⁰С.
Seedlings of Cedric cucumbers are watered with clean, warm water at least twice a week
Transplantation to a permanent place is carried out when four true leaves develop on the plants. Planted in a greenhouse according to the scheme 20x50 cm, placing on 1 m2 at least three plants. Cucumbers are watered, slightly spud, create support for vertical growth.
Cedric cucumber care rules
For successful vegetation and fruiting of Cedric cucumbers, you must:
- Maintain a constant temperature of +20 ⁰С in the greenhouse.
- Pour with settled water.
- Loosening regularly, removing weeds from the root.
- Correctly form and tie the bushes to the trellis.
- Fertilize periodically.
Cucumbers Cedric are fed several times - before flowering with a complex mineral fertilizer, during it - with superphosphate and urea, three times with potassium sulfate and Agricola during the fruiting period.
Plants of the Cedric variety must be properly formed:
- Dazzle the first five leaf sinuses.
- Remove stepchildren on the main stem, leaving ovaries.
- Pinch the top after reaching a height of 2-3 m.
Yellowed lower leaves need to be periodically cut and removed.
Conclusion
Cucumber Cedric is a young, promising early variety that does not cause much trouble to grow. Experienced and novice gardeners are increasingly choosing it, since the very minimum care is enough to get high quality vegetables in a short time.
Reviews of gardeners about Cedric cucumbers
